Typewriting machine



June 23, 1942. W.'FHE| MOND 2,287,475

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Deo. 22, 1959 Patented June 23, 1942 UNITEDSTATES cargar orrlcs TYPEWRITING MACHINE William F. Helmond, westHartford, conn., as;

signor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, NewYork, N. Y., acorporationof Delaware Application December 22, 1939, Serial No. 310,547

(C1. isn- 17) l 7 Claims.

rihis invention relates to power-driven typewriting machines, withreference'more particularly to machines of this character in which atype action actuating element is released into engagement with a drivingroller, incident to driving the type action, at the instant theoperating key is depressed.

In machines of this Character, a troublesome condition arises from theunintentional operation of any of the type action keys when the power ofthe machine is shut off and the actuating friction roller is idle,particularly if a number of the keys are so operated. When one or moreof the control keys are operated with the power off, themachine does notfunction, but each type action so operated is initially set foractuation as soon as the power is on and the friction roller isenergized; Consequently, when lof the machine is put into actual use andthe power v is turned on, if several type actions have beenunintentionally set they are immediately actuated, with the result thatthe machine is caused to jam, thus necessitating time-consuming repairor adjustment. Even if the operator realizes that the machine has beeninitially operated without power, the correction of this condition is anawkward operation usually requiring the services of a repair' man toremove the power roller and individually restore each preset type actionbefore the machine may be properly operated.

The present invention has for one of its objects to provide a simple,rugged and reliably operative mechanism by which the foregoingdifiicultes are obviated, to the end that unintentional operation of anyof the type action keys is prevented unless the actuating roller for thetype actions is being rotated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved, highlysensitive mechanism responsive to rotation of the actuating roller ofthe machine to automatically release a normally locked type-actionlocking device and thereby prevent actual operation of any type actionunless the actuating roller is being rotated.

More particularly, the invention has for its further object to providean improved, positively acting release mechanism including a sensitivecentrifugal device instantly responsive to rotation of the type-actiondriving roller and a simple, rugged connection therefrom to a lock barto quickly release the normally locked bar from engagement with thetype-action key levers and, when rotation of the roller is retarded orsusV stopped, to cause the return of the lock bar into key leverengagement; the organization and arrangement being such that themechanism may be economically manufactured `and adapted for use inpresent machines with only a minimum of changes, or may be readilyembodied in new machines,

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated in conjunction With related mechanism of thetypewriting machine, `and 'f Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevationalView of the lock release mechanism in condition while the machine is inoperation.

The invention is illustrated in conjunction with a typewriting machinehaving a type action system of well-known character, a brief descriptionof which will be given. A single type action of the system is shown, allof which are selectively adapted for power actuation by a roller 5arranged laterally of the machine and driven through a right angle drive6 by a motor 1,

both suitably mounted on a member 8 of the l,cludes a cam 2| rotatablycarried o-n a bellvcrank lever 22 pivoted on a fixed rod 23, a link 24connecting lever 22 with the sub-lever I1. In

the inactive condition of the actuating mechanism, the cam 2| is urgedto rotate clockwise by a spring-pressed lever 25 coacting with one of apair of pins 26 on the cam, so that when free to rotate, the eccentricperiphery of cam 2I is brought into engagement with the power roller 5.The cam 2I is releasably held against rotation by a latch lever 21pivoted on the bell crank 22, the lower end of which lever cooperateswith one of a pair of projections 28 on the cam to hold samenon-rotative, the upper end of the lever 21 being engaged in a fo-rkedmember 29 of the key lever 20.

As the key lever 20 is depressed, the lever 21 is swung so that itslower end disengages the projection 28 and the cam 2| is thus releasedto be rotated by inuence of the spring-pressed lever 25. The peripheryof the cam is thus brought into engagement with the power roller 5which, being rotated, imparts further rotation to the cam 2l through themedium of which the bell crank 22 is swung about its pivot 23 and thetype bar I is actuated toward the platen, all in the well-known manner.In completing its cycle of operation, the cam 2l, having made a halfturn, is restored to initial position at which it is again under therotative influence of the lever 25 and is latched by lever 21.

In machines of this character the initial release of the type action,which brings the cam 2i into co-action with the roller 5, is completedin any type action of the system of which a key is depressed, whetherthe power roller is rotated or stationary. Consequently with the rollerstationary, the actuating mechanism of each type action of which a keyhas been depressed is initially set only and does not complete its cycle0I operation, with the result that when the power of the machine isturned on to rotate the roller, all of the set type actions aresimultaneously power-actuated.

The present invention is directed to provide improved mechanismincluding locking means to prevent unintentional operation of the typeaction key levers 23 when the roller 5 is stationary, and by which thelocking means is automatically released incident to rotation of theroller 5. In the embodiment illustrated, a swingable lock bar 33 isarranged transversely of the machine, preferably adjacent and beneaththe forward ends of all the key levers 20 so that the free longitudinaledge of the lock bar normally abuts each key lever and locks same in itsnormal raised position. The lock bar 33 is pivotally mounted at each endon the framework of the machine; at its right end, in a plate 3l securedto the frame member 8. The lock bar 30 has a platelike arm 32 securedthereto, to which a restoring spring 33 is connected, the other end ofsaid spring being anchored on a xed bracket 34.

The drive unit generally indicated at 6 constitutes the right angledrive for the roller 5, and may include a spiral or worm gear fixed on ashaft 35 driven from the motor 1 and in mesh with a gear fixed on theshaft of the roller 5, the worm and gear being contained in the housingshown. The shaft V36 extends through the forward end of the housing, asindicated at 31, and has mounted thereon a centrifugal device 38 whichis responsive to rotation of the shaft 31,

and therefore the roller 5, to cause the lock bar f 33 to be swung fromits effective position shown in full lines in Figure 1, to that shown inphantom free of the key levers 2i). The centrifugal device 38 preferablyincludes a disk 33 fixed to the projecting shaft 31 and carrying a post48 projecting from the disk 39 in a direction parallel to the axis ofthe shaft 31 but eccentric therefrom. The post 48 is forked at its freeend and pivotally carries thereon a ily-weight or actuator 4l comprisingan arm 42 on the end of which a weight 43 is carried. The weight 43 isso arranged on the arm with respect to the post 48 that, when thecentrifugal device 38 is rotated at the normal speed of the motor 1, theWeight is eccentric from the axis of shaft 31. The arm 42 includes arounded portion 44 which constitutes the actuator of the centrifugaldevice and is adapted to move substantially axially of shaft 31 toengage a rounded head 45 of a plunger 46 slidably mounted in the bracket34 and having its opposite end engaging the arm 32 of the lock bar 30.

It may be here noted that the spring 33, acting on the arm 32, tends toswing the lock bar 38 to locking position and correspondingly tends toslide the plunger 46 axially toward the centrifugal device 38 and theweight 43 of the fly-Weight 4i is thereby yieldably held in a positionin which its center of gravity is near the axis of shaft 31,substantially as shown in full lines in Figure 1,.

When the motor 1 is energized and the shaft 31 is therefore rotated, thecentrifugal action of the ily-weight 4I causes its weight member 43 toswing to a position eccentric of the shaft 31. In so doing, the arm 42of the fly-weight, pressing against the plunger head 45, presses theplunger from its normal position rightward to that shown in Figure 2,against the tension of the spring 33, until a stop collar 41 on theplunger engages an arm of bracket 34. This sliding action of the plunger46, acting on the arm 32 swings the lock bar 33 to the position shown inFigure 2 at which the key levers 28 are released. However, as soon asthe motor 1 is shut off, the fly-weight 4l loses its momentum and isbrought to the inactive position shown in Figure l by the force ofspring 33 acting on the plunger 46. The key levers 20 are thus locked byengagement of the lock bar 38 therewith, incident to retarding orstopping the roller 5, and unintentional operation of any of the keylevers is therefore prevented as long as the roller 5 is idle. It willbe observed that with the motor 1 energized and the ily-weight 4ltherefore in actuated position, the rounded portion 44 of the armassumes a pivoting or swivel action on the plunger head 45, in that inthis condition of the mechanism, the ann portion 44 is axially alignedwith the plunger 46 which, if desired, may rotate slightly in accordwith the rotation of the fly-weight 4|. The arrangement of the roller 5,the right angle drive 6 and the motor 1 is typical of power actuatedtypewriting machines having type actions of the character indicated, Theuniversal lock bar 30 is preferably disposed parallel to the roller 5 inorder that it be movable universally into and out of locking relationwith the key levers 29. The organization of the centrifugal device withits axis at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the lock bar 30and with its actuator movable substantially axially of said device,affords a simple and reliably operative connection between thecentrifugal device and the universal lock bar, which renders the entirelocking mechanism easily adaptable for use in present machines.

The relative arrangement of the post 4U and iiy-weight 4l affords adynamic balance for the centrifugal device 38, in that the post 40 maybe weighted sufliciently to counterbalance the weight 4| in rotation,thereby obviating any vibratory effect in operation. The structure ofthe centrifugal device 38 as shown has the further advantage ofcompactness in that the parts are confined substantially within theperipheral limits of the disk 39 and may therefore be contained in thesmall space available at the region of the machine just forward of thegear drive unit 6. The centrifugal device 38 may therefore be disposedin close proximity to the lock bar 30 and is ideally suited to actuatethe lock bar by the simple means embodied in the slidable plunger 46.The simplicity of this arrangement has the desired advantage of economyin'manufacture and further, renders the entire lockingmecha- 1. In atypewriting machine having a systeml of type actions, power driven meansfor actuating the type actions and a universal lock bar movable into andout of locking relation with said type actions; in combination, acentrifugal device rotatable with said power driven means and having itsaxis substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of saidlock bar, said centrifugal device including an actuator movablesubstantially on the axis of said device in response to rotationthereof, and means operatively connecting said actuator and lock bar,said actuator having swiveling engagement with said connecting means.

2. In a typewriting machine having a system of type actions, powerdriven means for actuating the type actions and a universal lock barmovable into and out of locking relation with said type actions; incombination, a centrifugal device rotatable with said power driven meansand having its axis substantially at a right angle to the longitudinalaxis of said lock bar, said centrifugal device including an actuatormovable substantially axially of said device in response to rotationthereof, means normally urging said lock bar to locking position, and aslidable plunger interposed directly between said actuator and lock bar,said actuator having swiveling engagement with said connector.

3. In a typewriting machine having a system of type actions, powerdriven means for actuating the type actions and a universal lock barmovable into and out of locking relation with said type actions; incombination, a centrifugal device rotatable with said power driven meansand having its axis substantially at a right angle to the longitudinalaxis of said lock bar, said centrifugal device including an actuatormovable substantially axially of said device in response to rotationthereof, means normally urging said lock bar to locking position, and aslidable plunger in axial alignment with said centrifugal device andinterposed between said actuator and lock bar.

4. In a typewriting machine having a system of type actions, powerdriven means for actuating the type actions and a universal look barmovable into and out of locking relation with said type actions; incombination, a centrifugal device rotatable with said power driven meansand having its axis substantially at a right angle to the longitudinalaxis of said lock bar, said centrifugal device including a singlefly-weight pivoted eccentrically thereof and having a part movablesubstantially axially of said device in response to rotation thereof,means normally urging said lock bar to locking position, and a slidableplunger in axial alignment with said device and interposed between saidfly-weight part and said lock bar.

5. In a typewriting machine having a system of type actions, a powerroller arranged transversely of the machine to actuate the type actions,said type actions including key levers projecting forwardly of the powerroller, a motor drive to the power roller including a drive shaftaxially at a right angle to the power roller and having an end portionjust forwardly of the roller, and a lock bar extending across the keylevers forwardly of the power roller and swingable into and out oflocking engagement with the key levers; in combination, a centrifugaldevice on the drive shaft end portion forwardly of the roller, includingan actuator movable substantially on the axis of the drive shaft inresponse to rotation thereof, and a connector between said actuator andsaid lock bar, said actuator having swiveling engagement with saidconnector.

6. In a typewriting machine having a system of type actions, a powerroller arranged transversely of the machine to actuate the type actions,said type actions including key levers projecting forwardly of the powerroller, a motor, a drive between said motor and power roller including adrive shaft axially at a right angle to the power roller, and a lock barextending across the key levers forwardly of the power roller andswingable into and out of locking engagement with the key levers; incombination, a centrifugal device on the drive shaft forwardly of theroller, including an actuator movable substantially axially of the driveshaft in response'to rotation thereof, means normally urging said lockbar to locking position, and a slidable plunger in axial alignment withthe drive shaft and interposed between said actuator and said lock bar.

'7. In a typewriting machine having a system of type actions, a powerroller arranged transversely of the machine to actuate the type actions,said type actions including key levers projecting forwardly of the powerroller, a motor drive to the power roller including a drive shaftaxially at a right angle to the power roller, and a lock bar extendingacross the key levers forwardly of the power roller and swingable intoand out of locking engagement with the key levers; in combination, acentrifugal device on the drive shaft forwardly of the roller, includinga single ily-weight pivoted eccentrically thereof and having a partmovable substantially axially of said drive shaft in response torotation thereof, means normally urging said lock bar to lockingposition, and a slidable plunger in axial alignment with the drive shaftand interposed between said iiy-weight part and said lock bar.

WILLIAM F. HELMOND.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,287,1I7g. f June 25, 191;.2.

WILLIAM F. HEIMQND.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring `correcti onas follows: Page 5r,first column, lines 5l and 52, claim?, strike out the comma and wordsy", said actuator having swiveling engagement with said connector" andthat the said Letters Patent should be read withthis correction thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the Case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this lith day of August, A. D. 19102.

. Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

